The Titans offered a few surprises in their final round of cuts Tuesday, but mostly stuck to expectations as the team shaped its initial 53-man roster.<\/p>\n
Multiple changes are still likely to occur before the Titans\u2019 Sept. 7 opener in Denver, as the team has the No. 1 claim priority for every player put on waivers around the league.<\/p>\n
The Titans also placed running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday, meaning he won\u2019t be eligible to play in the first four games of the regular season.<\/p>\n
A few of the bigger names released among the 20 cuts included tight end Josh Whyle, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick; tackle Jaelyn Duncan, a 2023 sixth-round pick; wide receiver\/return specialist James Proche, who had produced an impressive training camp and preseason; and wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, an undrafted free agent wide receiver who posted big numbers with quarterback Cam Ward at the University of Miami last season.<\/p>\n
Other cuts Tuesday included running backs Jordan Mims and Jermar Jefferson; quarterback Trevor Siemian; wide receiver Mason Kinsey; tight ends Thomas Odukoya and Drake Dabney; defensive back Kendell Brooks; defensive linemen Cam Horsley, Isaiah Raikes and Carlos Watkins; edge rusher Ali Gaye; linebackers Brian Asamoah and Blake Lynch; cornerback Amani Orowariye; and guards Andrew Rupcich and Brendan Jaimes. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some of the more interesting names to make the first roster included rookie offensive lineman Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, an undrafted free agent out of Florida; offensive lineman Oli Udoh, a six-year NFL vet; and linebacker Curtis Jacobs, claimed off waivers from New England in March after seeing a decent amount of special teams action as a rookie last season.<\/p>\n
Here’s a breakdown of the initial 53-man roster by position:<\/p>\n
Position: Quarterback<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of two): Cam Ward, Brandon Allen<\/p>\n
Reaction: No real surprises here, as Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, is the hoped-for face of the franchise, while Allen offers experience and a knowledge of coach Brian Callahan\u2019s system \u2026 The Titans probably wouldn\u2019t mind adding Siemian to the practice squad, as he, too, was a background with Callahan at Cincinnati. But there are others who could fit the practice squad role if Siemian winds up heading elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Running back<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of three): Tony Pollard, Julius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings<\/p>\n
Reaction: It was mildly surprising to see the Titans cut both Mims and Jefferson, as each player showed well in the preseason \u2014 and because Tennessee will be without Spears for the first four games. The question now: Does Tennessee choose to start the season with just three backs, keeping a roster spot to bolster another position? Or will the Titans add one of the many running backs who were waived around the NFL on Tuesday?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Wide receiver<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of six): Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson, Eric Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Bryce Oliver<\/p>\n
Reaction: Proche really came on during training camp as a receiver, often flashing in practice while adding four preseason catches for 43 yards and three first down. Proche was also by far the team\u2019s most experienced punt returner. His release suggests the Titans may opt to give return responsibilities to Dike. Oliver made the team at least as much for his special teams work as he did his pass-catching skills.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Tight end<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of three): Chig Okonkwo, Gunnar Helm, David Martin-Robinson<\/p>\n
Reaction: Whyle recorded 28 catches for 248 yards and one touchdown last season, so the Titans chose to part ways with some known production. But Helm appears to be a better pass-catcher and blocker than Whyle, which is why the rookie jumped Whyle on the depth chart. Martin-Robinson offers a solid blocking\/special teams option and is a little more well rounded than Thomas Odukoya, who was cut.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Offensive line<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of 11): Dan Moore, Peter Skoronski, Lloyd Cushenberry, Kevin Zeitler, JC Latham, Corey Levin, Blake Hance, Oli Udoh, John Ojukwu, Jackson Slater, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson<\/p>\n
Reaction: No surprises among the top five, who have long been the projected starters. The eye-opener among the reserves was the 6-7, 316-pound Crenshaw-Dickson, who made the roster \u2014 at least for now \u2014 as an undrafted free agent out of Florida. He got the nod over Duncan, who played in 15 games and started eight over his two seasons. Hance offers experience at both guard and tackle, as does Udoh, who has 19 NFL starts among his 57 games of experience.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Defensive line<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of five): Jeffery Simmons, T\u2019Vondre Sweat, Sebastian Joseph-Day, James Lynch, Timmy Horne<\/p>\n
Reaction: The release of veteran Carlos Watkins was a mild surprise here. He was bumped in favor of the 6-4, 323-pound Horne, who didn\u2019t play at all last season and played just four games in 2023. Lynch made some good plays in training camp and the preseason to secure his spot. The Titans don\u2019t necessarily need big numbers at this roster position, as the team will likely move edge rushers \u2014 such as Arden Key \u2014 inside on pass-rushing downs anyway.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Edge rusher<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of five): Arden Key, Dre\u2019Mont Jones, Femi Oladejo, Jihad Ward, Jaylen Harrell<\/p>\n
Reaction: The moves made here went pretty much according to form, as the Titans parted ways with Ali Gaye. Harrell may have been on the bubble, after recording zero sacks and five pressures in 129 pass-rushing snaps last season. So, he may have to sweat out the next few days as the Titans pore over the waiver wire.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Inside linebacker<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of four): Cody Barton, Cedric Gray, James Williams, Curtis Jacobs<\/p>\n
Reaction: Barton is the unquestioned leader here, while both Gray and Williams looked good in camp and the preseason contests. Jacobs should be a good special teams contributor. The position still seems to cry out for more experience, as Gray, Williams and Jacobs have a combined total of three starts and 29 games played. If anything were to happen to Barton, the Titans might be in real trouble.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Cornerback<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of six): L\u2019Jarius Sneed, Jarvis Brownlee, Roger McCreary, Darrell Baker, Gabe Jeudy-Lally, Marcus Harris<\/p>\n
Reaction: The Titans signed seven undrafted free agent defensive backs \u2014 and another experienced corner in Oruwariye \u2014 and cut all of them, which either means they feel very good about this group, or that the UDFA crop was poor. Sneed remains the big question mark, as he could either be one of the league\u2019s top corners or already in the descending portion of his career. Jeudy-Lally isn\u2019t the swiftest defensive back, but the fact he can play both nickel and outside increases his value. Harris appeared to get better and better through camp and the preseason.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Safety<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of five): Amani Hooker, Quandre Diggs, Xavier Woods, Kevin Winston Jr., Mike Brown<\/p>\n
Reaction: It looked as if Kendell Brooks might sneak onto the roster, especially after his 53-yard, pick-six against Atlanta in the preseason. But Brown has gotten better defensively over his three NFL seasons, and he was a huge contributor on special teams the last couple of years. The signing of the experienced Diggs was smart, as Winston has taken longer than expected to return from lingering knee soreness.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Position: Specialists<\/p>\n
Who made it (total of three): K Joey Slye, P Johnny Hekker, LS Morgan Cox<\/p>\n
Reaction: There were no ongoing competitions at any of these spots, so no surprises. Slye\u2019s field goals of 63 and 53 yards in the preseason finale boosted the Titans\u2019 argument of signing him over Nick Folk because of Slye\u2019s bigger leg.<\/p>\n
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